Electrical timing device



ct. 15, 1929. Y F, E PENDLETQN 1,731,436

ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 1 www! a @ms a om 'my 'l l Mfwwf Oct. l5, 1929. F. E. PENDLETON 1,731,436

ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed April 2e, 1924 5 sheets-,sheet 2 MAM/m ct. l5, 1929. F, E PENDLETON 1,731,436

ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 vwemtoz Oct. 15, 1929. F. E. PENDLETON ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed April 26s 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet air-.laag

Oms, 1929. FE.pEmLE-mwv 1,731,436

ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Filed April 26,1924 sheets-sheet 5 3513 @Mime/13 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFlCE FRANK E. PENDLETON, OF ,MONTCLAIIL NEVI JERSEY ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Application filed April 26,

lVhile the invention will be described by way of example as applied to the control of steam supplied for heating purposes, it is to be understood that it may be applied to other uses Where a similar control of electric circuits is desired.

Electrical timing devices are generally devised and designed to produce by means of the make and break of electric circuits, series or cycles of effects co-ordinating in some manner with the movement or rotation of some element or machine to which they are connected or from which they derive impulse.

If the element referred to be a clock then the effects produced and co-ordinating with the movement thereof will occur at intervals that are some function of time. If the element referred to be, for instance, an explosive type of engine, and the effect produced by an electrical timing device connected therewith be the production, followed by the destruction, of a small electric are, generally termed a spark, then such effects, and so produced,

Will coordinate with the movement of the engine and will occur at intervals that bear a relation to the movement and to the position of some element of the engine, as, for inn stance, to the position of the piston within the engine cylinder.

In the adaption of electric timing devices, in many cases, to produce desired effects, it has further been found desirable to provide a suitable form of switch member, the proper positioning of which will operate to advance or retard the occurrence of the cycle referred to and With respect to the movement or rotation of the element to which it is connected; and although the said cycle may coordinate continuously With the movement of the element through which it secures impulse, yet the relation of such coordination to the movement of the element may be varied by the adjustment of the switch referred to, at the Will of the operator. An example of this appears in the case of the ordinary automotive engine, in which the sparking cycle may be advanced or retarded with respect to the position of the engine lpistons at the will of the operator. Again in certain forms of electric timing devices the character itself of 1924. serial No. 709,282.

the cycle produced, while coordinating with the movement of the element to which it is connected, may be so modilied, by means of a suitable switch, such as to produce a variation of the said character of the cycle; and as appears, for instance, in an ordinary form of temperature control device governing the turning on and shutting off of steam from av heating system, and in conjunction with which, an electric timing device is often used, consisting of a clock as the moving element and suitable electric terminals together with moving contacts, the movement of which contacts, with respect to the terminals produces a cycle of turning on and turning olf of steam from the system, By means of suitable switches the relative position of contacts to terminals may be so varied at the will of the operator that the cycle may not only be advanced or retarded with respect to actual time, but by further adjustment of switches, the character of cycle, or the relative periods during which steam is turned on or turned oill from the system, may be controlled by the operator.

My invention provides in an electric timing device novel and improved means for producing cycles of electric impulses coordinating with the movement of a primary element, for advancing or retarding such cycle, for modifying the character of the said cycle or for introducing a second cycle of ellects independent of or, if desired, coordinating with, the first cycle, and all at the will. of the operator; and novel and improved means for exhibiting lights or signals showing not only that the cycle of effects is being properly produced but also showing the stage of the cycle existing at any moment. The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings and specifications exhibits a clock as the moving element and such that the cycles of edects to be produced coerdinate with time, and the character of the cycles produced and several modifications and combinations thereof provided for by the devices are intended in this exemplilication of the invention to be applied, by means of the make and break of electric circuits, to suitable apparatus 'ler the turning on and Cil shutting off or interrupting of the iiow of steam in a pipe from a remote point or lccation. The following specifications and accompanying drawings exhibiting this form of the invention are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense and the invention could as well have been exhibited in a form to be used in conjunction with apparatus for the control of fog signals or for the control of pumping devices, oi with many forms of apparatus used for various industrial purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the apparatus described and set forth in the following specification and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a timing device embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the timing device shown in Fig. 1, taken on a plane immediately below the dial plate of the device.

Fig. 3 is a section of the device taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section of the device taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section of the device taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and,

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sections of the device taken on lines 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8, respectively of Fig. 4.

ln describing the invention it will be assumed that the device is detached from its v normal vertical position in use, and placed in a horizontal position as on a work bench, as such would be the convenient position for examination and for assembly.

In lmy present invention, an electric circuit for controlling the passage of steam includes a pair of branches in parallel so arranged that when either is closed current passes to a steam valve control to close the valve and, when both branch circuits are opened, the current is entirely cutv olf from this steam valve control and steam is permitted to pass. ln one of these branch circuits is a timing element, referred to hereinafter as a day switch, having an element rotated by clockwork or other driving means to complete a revolution in a definite time interval, or in definite relation to the rotation of the driving element, and in each revolution closing and opening the branch circuit for successive intervals which may be varied relatively to each other. This rotating element comprises a rotating wiper which wipes and contactsa number of contacts in succession and is se arranged that it is always in contact with one of these contacts. The circuit is completed from these contacts through an adjusting element which may be adjusted to maint-ain contact with one or more of the contact points at any time or to be insulated from all of the contacts, depending on its position relative to them, so that the time during which the circuit is closed through this adjusting element or is interrupted is controlled by the number of contacts to which this adjusting element is connected. The adjusting element is provided with a manually operable knob and a dial so that an attendant or operator may, by merely turning the knob, adjust the relative lengths of the closed and opened periods of the circuits in accordance with t-he demand for steam. This provides a means by which the desired control of the quantity of steam supplied may be obtained during the period when a supply is desired.

Means are also provided in the other branch of the circuit opera-ting in a longer time cycle as, for example, twenty-four hours, for closing the circuit and thus shutting 0H the steam during portions of this longer period of time, as at night, and for opening the circuit and thus permitting the supply of steam, .subject to the day switch, during the remaining portion of its period of rotation, as during the day time. rIhis control means, referred to hereinafter as the night switch, is somewhat similar in structure to that of the day switch but the rotating contact Wiper has a longer time in which to complete a rotation,

as, in the above example, twenty-four hours.

In order that there may be a` visible signal or indication when the apparatus is so arranged as to permit the passage of steam, a circuitis completed through a lamp of a distinctive color, for example, to show a white light, when the circuit is closed and the steam is shut off, and through an alternative lamp of a different color, for example a red lamp, when the electric circuits are both open and steam is permitted to pass through the apparatus under the control of the timing device. The driving means for the contact making mechanism is driven in a direct relation to a moving element, such for example as a clock, and means are provided to indicate the agreementor coincidence of the contact making mechanism therewith and also when necessary, for enabling the contact mechanism to be brought into the proper' relation to the clock or other mechanism from which the timing mechanism is primarily driven. e

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, an electric current for controlling the steam cut off and admission mechacts to break and close the circuit in a period of twenty-four hours in such a manner that at a predetermined time the current will be broken to permit the passage of steam through the controlled apparatus and at another predetermined time will be closed to interrupt the passage of steam through this controlled apparatus. From the night switch 24 the circuit returns through a return binding post 26 and conductors 28 and 30 to a binding post 32 of a signal relay switch 34 which is mounted on an insulating slab 35 supported on a supporting plate 36, Fig. 3, above and spaced from the slab 17. From the binding post 32 the current passes through the two small electro-magnets 37 and 38 of the relay switch to a binding post 40 and thence through a conductor 42 to a binding post 44 which is connected to a return lead 46 extending out through the conduit 12 to the source of electric energy.

A portion of the current from the return wire 28 of the timing element 24 is also taken through conductors 49 and 48 to a white lamp 50 at the opposite side of the casing 14 and returns through a conductor 52 to a binding post 54 from which it passes through a conductor 56 to a relay contact 58 of the relay switch 34. lVhen the electromagnets 37 and 38 of the relay 34 are energized, an armature 60 is Iattracted into contact with the contact 58 and the current returns through this armature to a binding post 62 and return circuit 64, leading out through the conduit 12. As the a apparatus is so arranged that the steam is shut ofi when the current passes through the timing element 24 andelectromagnet coils 37 and 38, the current also passes through the white lamp 50 giving a visible signal that the steam is shut off.

Connection is further made from the binding post 16 through the conductor 19 and a branch conductor 66 to a binding post 68 of a secon d timing element 70 which is arranged to open and close the circuit in a shorter cycle than that of the timing element 24, for example, in a cycle lasting one and one-half hours. From the opposite post 72 of the timing element70 the current returns through a conductor 74 and through the return conductor 49 of the lamp circuit, binding post 32, relay coils 37 and 38, binding post 40, binding post 44 to the return wire 46, thus permitting the passage of current to the steam control apparatus to shut off steam. Current also flows through conductor 48, white lamp 50, conductor 52, binding post 54, contact 58, armature 60 and binding post 62 to the return lead 64.

It will thus be apparent that when currentpasses tb rough either of the timing elements,

that is, through either the day switch or the night switch the current will pass through the coils 37 and 38 of the relay switch 34 and through the proper leads or circuits to shut olf steam and also to light the white light 50.

Thus, if during a portion of the longer cycle of the night switch 24 the contacts are so positioned as to permit the current to pass, the steam valve will be shut regardless of the position or action of the contacts in the shorter period timing element or day switch 70. On the other hand, when the timing element 24 is so arranged that the circuit therethrough is opened, the passage of current through the control apparatus, and the shutting olil and t-urning on of steam will be controlled by the day switch until the night switch returns to a position to permit the passage of current therethrough.

Then both the night switch and the da switch are open, no current can flow througli the return circuits from said switches, and therefore no glowing of the white signal lamp 50 will occur. Furthermore, no current will flow through the coils 37 and 38 of the relay switch 34 and the armature 60 will therefore no longer be held in a. position against the contact 58 but, due to a light spring tension provided, will seek a posit-ion touching' a contact 76 and current will flow from the supply lead 10 conductors 20 and 78 to a red signal lamp 80 and return through conductor 82 binding post 84 on the relay switch 34 to the Contact 76, then out through the armature 60 binding post 62 and return lead 64 thus producing an incandescence of the red signal lamp 80 whenever the circuit through both timing elements 24 and 70 is interrupted and the steam is accordingly on.

The night switch 24 and day switch 7 0 are driven in their respective cycle from a clock or other suitable mechanism 88 through an idler gear or pinion 90 en a shaft 92 mounted between a bearing 94 on the plate 36 and a bearing 96 on a plate 97 supported on plate 18. The idler gear 90, in turn, meshes with, and drives, a time set gear 98 loosely mounted on a time set shaft 100, which is journaled at its lower end in a. bearing 102 mounted on the plate 97 and extends upwardly through a bearing 104 in the upper plate 36. On the time set gear 98 are mounted pawls 106 maintained in close engagement with a ratchet wheel 108 by means of suitable springs 110. The ratchet wheel 108 is firmly secured to the time shaft 100 so that the shaft 100 is rotated when the gear 98 is rotated in a clockwise direction causing the pawls 106 to engage the ratchet wheel 108 but permitting the shaft 100 to be rot-ated in the same direction without rotating the clock or idler gear 90. A driving gear 112 is also firmly mounted on the shaft 100 and serves to drive the mechanisms of both the day switch and night switch.

The time set shaft 100 is also extended upwardly through a dial plate 114 spaced from the base 18 by means of posts 116. A knob 118 is fixed on the upper, projecting end of the shaft 100 by which the shaft may be tween the collar and shaft.

manually rotated and a pointer 120 is attached to the lower tace of the knob to indicate the position of the shaft and, accordingly, of the driving gear 112 and of the timing element-s or switches driven by this gear. rlhe pointer 120 rotates above a. dial 122 on the face of the dial plate 114 which is divided into twentytour divisions numbered in two separate series from 1 to 12 corresponding to the hours oi the day and night, the shaft 100 and its associated gears making one complete revolution in a period of twenty-tour hours, and theV pointer 120 indicating the corresponding position of the Vtiming mechanisms or day and night switches. rllhe clock mechanism has a dial tace 124 on the dial plate 114 immediately above the dial 122 and an hour hand 126 and a minute hand 128 of the usual type moving over this dial. rlhe pointer 120 moves in a definite relation to the hands of the clock and should point to the same hour as the clock hour hand 126. 1t tor any reason the pointer 120 is not in agreementwith the clock hour hand, it may be rotated, in the direction indicated by the arrow, together with the timing mechanisms driven by it, the pawls 106 slipping past the ratchet wheel 108 and thus permitting this setting of the timing mechanisms without interfering with the clock mechanism.

The dial plate 114 also has a pair of openings 130 and 132 through which the lamps 50 and 80, respectively, are visible, these openings being provided with glasses or jewels 134 of the proper color. The dial plate 114 and the various knobs mounted above it are covered by a glass door 136 on the casing 14 which is hinged at 137 to permit access to the knobs for the purpose ot adjustment.

The rotating element of the night switch7 24 is fixed on a shat't 138 driver by a gear wheel 140 also rigidly lined or mounted on the shaft 138. As the gear wheel 140 is to be driven from the driving gear 112 on the time lset shaft-100 and in the same direction and at the same angular velocity as the wheel 112, the gearsr140 and 112 are provided with the same diameters and number of teeth and the gear 140 is driven through an idler gear 142,011 a shaft 144 journaled at its lower end in a bearing 146 on the plate 97 and at its upper end in a bearing 148 in a. lug 150 depending downwardly from the upper plate 36. The shaft 138 oiC the night switch is journaled at its lower end in a bearing 152 mounted on a plate 154 extending horizontally'in the lower portion of a casing 156 enclosing the night switch, and at its upper end is ournaled in the lower portion ot' a bearing 158 which is mounted in an insulating plate 160 extending across the switch casing 156.

Rigidly mounted on the shaft 138 is a metallic collar 162Yinsulated from the shaft 188 by Vmeans of an insulating bushing berlhe collar is electrically connected to the binding post 22, which -is mounted on the vinsulating plate 160, by means of a brush 164 extending from the binding post 22 back of the plate 160 and resting on the upper surface of the collar 162. Mounted on the outer surface of the collar 162 is a metallic spiral spring 166, which, as the Ashaiit 138 and collar 162 rotate, wipes against a number of posts 168 depending downwardly in acircle from the insulating plate 160. The spring 166 and the posts 168 are so proportioned and positioned relative to each other that the spring 166 is always in contact with one and only one of the posts, and thus each post is placed in succession in electric connection with the binding post 22 and its circuit. 1n the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, twelve posts are used and, as the shaft, 138, collar 162 and spring 166 make one complete revolution in each twenty-tour hours, each post is connected to the electric circuit for a period of two hours.

Each ot the posts 168 is mounted on or in Contact with a hollow collar 170 extending.

through the insulating plate 160, flanged slightly inwardly at their upper ends andhaving projecting ball contacts 172 having outward flanges at their lower ends which are urged upwardly against the inward flanges et the collars by means ot' ,spiral springs 174. (in the under side of the insulating plate 160 the return binding post 26 of the night switch is mounted and provided with a hollow collar 176, ball contact 178 and spring 180 similar to those ot the posts 168. It will be apparent that by connecting the contact 178 with any desired number of the contacts 172, a circuit will be closed through the switch whenever the spring 166 contacts with the posts of the selected group of contacts, and, since each post is contacted by the spring 166 during a detinite period of two hours of the cycle of twenty-four hours, the time when the circuit is closed may be predetermined.

For this purpose the ballcontacts 172 are arranged to press upwardly against and contact with contacts 182 mounted in a circular plate of insulating material 184 and extending through this plate and a metallic plate 186 thereon over which the contacts are headed or riveted and thereby interconnected. Other contacts 188 are also mounted on the plate 184 and in contact with the metallic plate 186 and positioned to contact with the ball contact 178 of the binding post 26. It will thus be apparent that the binding post 26 may be placed into electric connection,

'through the cont-acts 182 and 188 and the plate 186, with selected numbers of the posts 168.

r1`he plate 184 is normally stationary during the operation of the timing mechanism but may be rotated into a limited number of positions to bring different combinations of posts into electric connection with the binding post 26. For this purpose the plate 184 is fixedly 'mounted on a shaft 190 the lower end of which is journaled in the bearing 158 and the upper portion of which projects through a cover 192 of the switch casing 15 and through an opening in. the dial plate 114. A manually operable knob 194 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 190 by which the disc 184 may be rotated into different settings to connect the desired combinations of contact posts 168 with the binding post 26. A double pointer 196 is also mounted on the under side of the knob 194 to rotate over a dial 198 on the dial plate 114 which is provided with marks or legends to indicate the time when the circuit will be closed for steam off or opened for steam on when the pointer points in any of the settings. A number of notches 200 are also cut in the outer circumference of the disc 184 in position to be successively engaged by a spring pressed detent 202 in the side of the switch casing 156 when the disc is rotated into the proper position for the different settings.

In. the embodiment illust-rated in the drawings, the disc is designed for seven settings, in some of which the steam is turned on at 6 A. M. and off at 6, 8, 10 or 12 P. M. respectively and in others of which the steam is turned on at 4 A. M. and is turned off` at 10 or 12 P. M. and in one of which the steam is turned on at all times or, as indicated is on the same at night as in the day time. Inasmuch as the steam is always on between 6 A. M. and 6 P. M., the circuit is always broken between these hours and the posts 168 corresponding to these hours are not provided with ball contacts 172 as are the other posts, and serve merely to keep the spiral spring 166 in place.

Since the disc is never rotated more than 180 degrees a post 204 is mounted on the disc 184 insulated from the metallic plate 186 and projecting upwardly to Contact with a pair of posts 206 and 208 depending downwardly from the cover 192 as the disc reaches the ends of its semicircular rotation.

Inasmuch as it would not be possible or convenient to obtain all of the desired combinations if the ball contacts 172 were mounted directly above the posts 168 some of them are olf set on circles of larger diameter and connected to their posts by metallic straps or strips 214 on the under side of the plate 160 and some of the contacts 182 are similarly arranged on circles of corresponding diameters and in the required spacing to provide the connection of the desired posts with a selected setting of the disc 184.

The structure of the day switch is somewhat similar to that of the night switch but as the switch element is to rotate in a much shorter cycle, its driving gear is driven from the gear 112 through a gear train which decreases its period of rotation, in the present case in the ratio of 16 to 1. This gear train comprises a small gear 218 fixed on a shaft 220 mounted between a. bearing 222 in the lplate 97 and a bearing 224 in a lug 226 off set from the plate 36. Fixed to the shaft 220 above the gear 218 is a larger gear 228 which meshes with a driving gear 230 mounted on a shaft 232 which acts similarly to the shaft 138 of the night Switch to rotate the timing or contact element of the switch. The shaft 232 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing 234 in a plate 236 extending across the lower portion of a switch casing 238 and j ournaled at. its upper end in a bearing 24() in a plate 242 of insulating material extending across the easing above the gears 230.

A metallic collar 244 is fixed on and insulated from the shaft 232 and is electrically connected to the binding post 68 by means of a brush 246 mounted on the lower face of the plate 242 and wiping against the upper face of the collar 244. The collar 244 is also provided with a spiral spring 248 which wipes against a series of posts 250 depending downwardly from the insulating plate 242 and arranged in a circle about the shaft 232. The function of the spring 248 and posts 250 is similar to that of the sprino' 166 and posts 168 of the night switch 24 but as the cycle of rotation is shorter only six posts are required. The posts 250 are also attached to collars 252 having spring pressed ball contacts 254 in their upper ends projecting slightly above the upper face of the plate 242 (Fig. 7

The ball contacts 254 are positioned to press against the lower face of a rotatable plate 256 having contact rivets 258 so positioned therein that when the plate 256 is placed in different angular positions the rivets 258 will ycontact with different combinations of ball contacts. The rivets 258 extend through and are headed down on a metallic plate 260 on the upper face of the plate 256 to connect them to each other. Certain of the rivets 258, in certain positions of the plate 256 contact with ball contacts 264 connected to the return binding post 72 by means of a metallic connecting strip 266 on the under face of the plate 242.

The plate 256 is to remain in a fixed position during the rotation of the shaft 232 and the spring 248 but is also so mounted as to be rotated into a variety of different positions in each of which a different combination of posts 250 will be connected to the binding pest 7 2 through the ball contacts 254 and the plate 260. For this purpose the plate 256 is fixed on a shaft 268, insulated from the metallic plate 260 and j ournaled at its lower end in the bearing 240 and extending upwardly through a bearing 270 in a cover plate 27 2 of the switch casing 238. The upper end of the shaft 268 projects slightly above the dial plate lll and rigidly mounted on its upper Vendis a knob 27e and a double pointer 276 which swings over a dial 278 in the dial plate lle. rlhe dial plate is divided into seven different positions indicating that when the pointer is in one of these positions the steam will be on throughout the cycle, in another position will be on 1% hours and ofi' l@ hour, in another will be on l@ hour and oft lll hour and so on in quarter hour gradations until a position is reached in which the steam will be entirely shut off. Each of these conditions is, however, subject to the night switch positions. The plate 256 is provided witha series of notches 280 in its circumference equally spaced to correspond to the positions of the various setti g and a spring pressed detent 282 is provided in the switch casing 288 to engage the notches and insure the plate coming to a stop in a setting rather than an intermedi position. i To enable the desired number of contacts and combinations of connections to be obtained some of the ball contacts are not mounted directly above their respective Yposts 250 but are set on circles of larger radii and are connected to their respective posts by metallic connector strips 288 and 290011 the lower face of the plate 242. The rivets are correspondingly arranged on circles of the saine radii as those of the posts 250 and the Y circles, respectively.

The plate 265 is also provided with an upwardly projecting post 292 positioned to strike posts and 296 as the plate is rotated to a limiting position within 180 degrees corresponding to the end positions of the pointer 276 and the dial 278,

itis changes of construction could be mat e within the sccpe of my invention it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. n

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is A .Y l. In an electrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful eect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles ofrtopen" and closed circuits therein, a driving element therefor, and operable `means for simultaneously advancing or adjusting such cycles relative to said driving element. Y

2L ln an electrical timing'device, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more vparallel circuits, independent means in eacii of the parallel circuits for producingcycles of openland closed circuits therein, a driving element therefor, operable means for advancing or adjusting such cycles relative to said driving element, and means -for changing the characterof cycles in one of the parallel circuits.

3. ln an electrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, a driving element 'for said mea-ns, operable means for simultanenously advancing or adjusting such cycles relative to said driving means, and means for changing the character of the cycles in each of the parallel branches of the primary circuit.

4;. ln an electrical timing device, a'primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, a first auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliarycireuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, and current controlled means for closing the first auxiliary circuitand operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is closed, and for closing the second auxiliai'y circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is open 5. In an electrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, a. driving element for said means, operable means for adjusting such cycles relative'to said driving element, a first auxiliary circuit with mea-ns'for producing a visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliary circuit with'means for producing a visible siglnal connected therewith, and means for'closing the first auxiliary circuit and operating thervisible signalconnected therewith, only when the primary circuit is closed, and for closing the second auxiliary circuit and operating the visible` signal connected therewith, onlyY when the primary circuit is open7 6. ln anelectrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, a driving element for said means, operable means Jfor advancing or adjusting such cycles relative to said driving means, means for changing the character of cycles in one of the parallel circuits, a Vfirst auxiliary circuit with means for producing a .visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliary circuitl with means for producing av visible signal connected therewith, and means for Kcl'osing7 the iirst auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is closed,

llO

ico

and for closing the second auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is dopen. Y

7. In an electrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, a driving element for said means, operable means for advancing or adjusing such cycles relative to said driving element, means for changing the character of the cycle in each of the parallel branches of the primary circuit, a first auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, and means for closing the first auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is closed, and for closing the second auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is open 8. In an electrical timing device, a case or housing enclosing a driving element, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising l two or more parallel circuits, independent means in each of the parallel circuits for producing cycles of open and closed circuit therein, operable means for advancing or adjusting such cycles relative to said driving element, means for changing the character of the cycle in each of the parallel branches of the primary circuit, a first auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, and means for closing the first auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit is closed, and for closing the second auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith, only when the primary circuit 'is open 9. In an electrical timing device, a rotatable driving element, a primary circuit for useful effect, comprising a positive conductor, timer element, and a negative conductor in which the relay coils of a switch are connected, a timer element comprising a rotatable member or rotor with contact brush operated by the driving element, a plurality of fixed members or contact posts, with each of which the rotor brush contacts in turn, a positive terminal electrically connected with the rotor and a negative terminal normally having independent electrical connection with one or more of the contact posts, an auxiliary circuit, with a signal lamp connected therein, and extending from the negative terminal of the timer through the said lamp element, relay switch armature and contacts, and terminating in a second negative return conductor, and a relay switch element comprising an electromagnetic coil member connected in the primary circuit, a movable or hinged armature member with contacts, forming part of the said auxiliary circuit and a spring tension member tending to maintain the said auxiliary circuit open, substantially as described.

l0. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an electric circuit haying branch circuits in parallel, and means for opening and closing said branch circuits in definite cycles, the period of the cycle of one branch being longer than that of the other, and common driving means for said opening and closing means to drive one of said means at a diii'erent speed from that of the other.

l1. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an electric circuit having a pair of branch circuits in parallel, means for alternately holding said branch circuits open and closed during alternate portions of a cycle, the cycles of said branches being different, a pair of lamp circuits, and current controlled means for alternately closing one of said lamp circuits when both of said branch circuits are open and for closing the other lamp circuit when either of said branch circuits is closed.

l2. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, an electric circuit having a pair of branch circuits in parallel, means for holding said branch circuits alternately open and closed during alternate portions of a cycle, the cycles of said branches being different, a pair of lamp circuits, and a relay switch connected through said branch circuits to alternately close one lamp circuit when both said branch circuits are open and to close the other when either of said branch circuits is closed.

i3. In an electrical timing device, a primary circuit for useful effect, means for producing cycles of open and closed primary circuit, a iirst auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, a second auxiliary circuit with means for producing a visible signal connected therewith, and a magnetic relay switch in said primary circuit having means for opening the second auxiliary circuit and closing the irst auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith only when the electro-magnet 'of said relay switch is energized by closing said primary circuit, and for opening the first auxiliary circuit and closing the second auxiliary circuit and operating the visible signal connected therewith only when the electro-magnet of said relay switch is cle-energized by opening said primary circuit.

FRANK E. PENDLETON. 

